Small Weddings at Coombe Trenchard - Sarah's 'Petite & Beautiful' solution to Wedding Planning SOS for 2021

As Autumn unfolds here at Coombe Trenchard, and the Covid-19 pandemic remains very much at large, we’re reaching out to wedding couples already booked with us - and to new couples too, to help those who may feel they’ve lost their way when it comes to the plans for their wedding…

Now more than ever, we are here to share a positive, happy, hopeful conversation - and to offer a ray of wedding planning light, paired with calm and dedicated support.

We know the turmoil that surrounds the wedding industry is creating waves of worry and sorrow for everyone involved, casting a shadow over what should be the best time ever.

Having spoken to many engaged couples over the last 6 months, we’ve listened carefully to how some are beginning to feel stuck in the never ending cycle of postponement after postponement.

And yet one thing is becoming clear… love and life has to go on - and if restrictions dictate a small yet beautifully formed wedding, so be it.

So next week, we launch a new ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding opportunity at Coombe Trenchard, to help 2021 wedding couples rise out of the fog, and achieve a stunning small wedding day, sooner rather than later.

Furthermore, we’ll be pleased to offer couples the chance to book a celebration party with their wider circle of family & friends at a much later date too - if a full and fabulous celebration remains an absolute must.

Our newly designed wedding solution will we hope, carve out a positive way forward for us as a venue, and for couples feeling really stuck.

Below Sarah answers a few key questions for those considering a ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding at Coombe Trenchard, enabling couples to understand how this new weddings opportunity will operate as a breathe of fresh air, at this incredibly difficult time.

Q: How many guests are we allowed within our small wedding to qualify for the ‘Petite & Beautiful’ package?

A: The minimum number for the package can really be just the two of you as the couple. We’d be thrilled to act as your witnesses for the marriage ceremony, and it would be our pleasure to welcome and host you discreetly throughout your time here at Coombe Trenchard.

The maximum number of people we can include within the package is 30 guests, the total number of which, should include you as a couple, but not our immediate suppliers or staff.

Q: Is the ‘Petite & Beautiful’ package available to be booked on any date and at any time?

A: We’ve designed the package to provide a stunning solution for couples (and ourselves as a venue) finding their wedding plans for 2021 in crisis.

A ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding at Coombe Trenchard is an opportunity for relatively short lead wedding enquiries, or weddings that find themselves having to rethink all of their plans.

Either way, it’s a wedding booking solution no further ahead than 12 months at any one time to be safe and sensible during a time when so much remains unknown.

The package is a mid-week wedding solution in the main, with weekend enquiries potentially considered, subject to our availability and discretion.

Enquiries for a mid-week ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding booking in 2022 may also be considered, under exceptional circumstances, however I do ask couples to be aware that prices quoted as far ahead as 2022 could be subject to a nominal increase in line with inflation, and to ensure our overheads for the inclusive package are fully covered.

Q: What does a ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding opportunity at Coombe Trenchard include?

A: Our digital brochure holds a full and detailed explanation of every detail we will take care of and organise beautifully for you. We’ve worked hard to ensure everything you could possibly wish for has been included, leaving you as carefree as possible to simply drink in the day.

Whilst we cannot reasonably unpick elements from the package, do rest assured we would pleased to consider organising any additional elements, that may be important to you for a tailor made experience.

Q: How much does a Petit & Beautiful Wedding at Coombe Trenchard cost

A: The package pricing starts at £3000 inc VAT. Precise costs will be dictated by your chosen number of guests, and the dates in which you’d like to consider marrying.

Weekend dates will nearly always carry an additional fee due to increased demand for the limited number of wedding dates we offer as a private country house estate each year.

Each booking is subject to individual quotation.

Q: How can we talk to you, visit you, and find out more?

A: I can be available via video call for an initial conversation if time is of the essence. Furthermore, we also have a series of Coombe Trenchard IGTV videos and links we can share with you by way of a virtual tour if you happen to be based a distance from Devon.

And of course if you’d like to visit us in person, I would love to welcome you personally for a show round.

Whilst weddings like never before are being forced to happen right now, Coombe Trenchard can help you have a small but incredibly beautifully formed wedding to exceed expectation - putting your love and your happiness where it belongs, back on the agenda.

To arrange a discussion in person, or via video call, to receive our ‘Petite & Beautiful’ wedding brochure, or to ask me any further questions at all, please feel free to get in touch with me by emailing sarah@coombetrenchard.co.uk or by telephoning 01566 783179.

Images within this blog and our ‘Petite & Beautiful’ weddings brochure with grateful thanks to Clare Kinchin Photography, Venetia Norrington, Luna Weddings, Lucy Wallace Photography, Fizz Photography, Freckle Photography, McKenzie-Brown, Liberty Pearl and Alexa Poppe.

Country House Wedding Venue SOS - how Coombe Trenchard can help couples with their wedding plans in the wake of Covid-19

As the days roll into weeks in the wake of Covid-19 here in the UK, it’s safe to say we are all beginning to realise the immense challenges this unprecedented time is bringing to life as we know it.

Our hearts go out to everyone right now - as we all have no choice but to face the difficulties, the worry and the sadness of this crisis head on.

Many of you will already be aware of the devastating impact this epidemic is having on UK weddings and events - as doors to venues have temporarily closed, marriage ceremonies are postponed, festivals and shows are cancelled, leaving so many wonderful people forced to make radical changes to their plans.

Spring and summer 2020 wedding couples nationwide, their families, friends, and network of amazing South West Wedding suppliers, have watched their plans, designs, and endless efforts for a day that dreams are made of, be abruptly altered. Plans which have been curated with love, joy and excitement in the months, even years leading up to this point.

So what can we, Coombe Trenchard the relatively small private West Devon Country House Wedding Venue do to help couples whose wedding plans are in jeopardy?

The Coombe Trenchard team and I have brainstormed - with kindness, flexibility and personal attention to detail at the forefront of everything we do here - and we hope the following measures (which are available with immediate effect) will provide a positive and practical ray of hope to couples as together we stand strong and weather this storm.

Additional availability for 2021 now available

As of today, Philip and I have taken the decision to increase the total number of wedding bookings we accept annually, by way of releasing additional booking dates within our private events diary. The new booking opportunities will apply to Spring, Summer and early Autumn 2021 dates, to enable couples urgently seeking a venue for next year to place an enquiry with us in confidence, instead of being turned away.

A discounted and flexible phase of booking payments

To support couples whose wedding budgets and personal cash flow during this difficult time, we have decided to reduce the deposit amount we require to secure a new booking by 50% - and we will run this discounted scheme for the duration of 2020.

Thereafter, we will also offer a staggered phase of final balance payments should couples prefer to spread the cost of their venue hire fees.

Embracing virtual ways to keep the conversation & the support flowing

I’m fortunate to have access to (and be able to use!) a number of digital communication tools which I enjoy using to stay in touch my family and friends from all corners of the world. And in these times of isolation, I will be pleased to use these digital platforms for our wedding business too.

So for anyone wishing to have an initial wedding venue chat via skype or facetime to begin establishing a connection with Coombe Trenchard - to find out more about us, to explore our availability and the beautiful spaces, props, services and wedding planning support we just love to share - feel free to email me to schedule in a virtual meeting.

Sowing the seeds of love

And finally, for those who haven’t yet watched our new film, below is a link for you to do so via our You Tube channel. I invite you to sit quietly for a moment, and enjoy being temporarily transported to our very special West Devon estate as I share an insight into the story of Coombe Trenchard.

I’ll let you into a little secret… I’m not a natural in front of the camera at all, so this film took a lot of patience, and many many edits. Enormous thanks to Will and Nell for working so patiently with us to create the finished film, which we all love, are very proud of, and is a beautiful reminder that happy days will return again.

Take care & keep well,

Sarah x

Image credits

Wedding & Grounds: Clare Kinchin Photography

Weddings at Coombe Trenchard ~ Our pledge to couples since we began sharing our home

The beginning of a new year is an incredibly exciting time for engaged couples.

From the blissfully dizzy heights of marriage proposal, to the realisation of actual wedding plans - with lots of venue hunting, idea swooning and supplier shopping all to be done in between - and all in the name of love - your most exciting union…

It is safe to say that we absolutely adore sharing our home and our gardens with couples, their families and their chosen guests to create an idyllic day - the day of dreams.

“Our special spot in the West of Devon, lends itself so beautifully to making the very best of memories - it is one of the reasons we fell in love with Coombe Trenchard ourselves 11 years ago when it became our home.”

Since then, we’ve hosted two of our own family weddings and so many wonderfully memorable occasions here, before we opened our doors and started to share Coombe Trenchard with a selected number of seasonal booking opportunities which includes weddings, for they just work so well here.

“Wedding bookings at Coombe Trenchard are exclusive and limited in number - as we set aside no more than a handful of dates each year for others to enjoy the happiest of times in our home.”

Our decision to take on a limited number of bookings each year assures the highest personal attention to detail, and a unique and extra special experience for each couple that falls in love with our location, and feels connected and ‘at home’ in our home.

We love to host events, and to really look after our guests, and our pledge to not ‘pile the bookings high means our product and our service will always be delivered with focus, energy, style and un-interrupted grace - giving everyone perfect peace of mind, and our couples the chance to take in every magical moment of their Coombe Trenchard wedding.

Of course no two weddings are ever the same, and nor should they be…

Those seeking a venue for an elaborate two day weekend summer celebration - are most welcome to get in touch. And those planning their day in an entirely different fashion, with fewer guests…or even marrying mid-week - are also welcome to get in touch too!

“Our space is flexible, our experience is plentiful, nothing will be too much trouble, and you’ll be in the safest calmest of hands as we guide you through every single detail, and support you every step of the way.”

So what’s the catch? Well there isn’t one really… except that if Coombe Trenchard is the venue for you - you have to book with us quickly before our diary of limited edition dates for each year closes!

We have just a snippet of availability left this summer, and for now our diary is still open for 2020 and 2021. But it won’t be long before our allocated dates for weddings have been secured, of that we are certain.

If you’d like to start exploring Coombe Trenchard’s opportunities for your wedding by casting your gaze over our wedding brochure and indicative wedding price guide, or by asking me any questions you may have - do get in touch by clicking here.

My heartfelt thanks to Kelly and James who married at Coombe Trenchard last year - it is their images I have shared with you throughout this blog post, all captured beautifully by Elizabeth Armitage.

Happy happy happy new year everyone - I have a feeling it is going to be quite marvellous, especially for our 2019 couples.

Sarah x

sarah@coombetrenchard.co.uk

01566 783179

Lauren & Matts Wedding Planning Blog ~ part 5

A final blog post from Lauren, before this beautiful couple hold their September wedding at Coombe Trenchard.

Counting down the days to wedded bliss

With now less than 5 weeks to go everything is beginning to fall into place and is feeling so real! We have counted down the weekends we have left and each one is jam packed with something meaning we have no time left to do anything more, so we just have to have complete trust in our planning so far and hope that it will all come together perfectly on the day – with a huge hand from Sarah, who we know will make sure every detail is accommodated (she’s been amazing for this!).

We are also spending time over the next few weeks wearing in shoes, practicing our first dance, and hand making all the last little bits for the day.

The 'wedding planning room' at home has spanned so far out I had to have a sit down and sort out last week to remember all the things we have got! It was so exciting going through things knowing the next time they are unpacked will be the night before the wedding.

We have had nearly all the final appointments with our suppliers, and have settled the final balances with most of them too, which has been such a huge relief as we know now that anything we have extra can go towards the honeymoon - Yippee!

We have booked with Kuoni, and cannot wait for our amazing trip - 3 nights in Bangkok and then off to enjoy the beaches of Thailand for a week!

Our honeymoon will follow on straight after the wedding which will be fantastic as we carry the motion of the day on into the most amazing holiday of our lives!

After our wedding and honeymoon it will be back to reality with no planning left to do – which will feel really strange! I actually don’t know how I will get on not having something to make every week or contacting people to arrange appointments - although from the amazing people we have met throughout our planning, I am pretty sure I will be in touch with them afterwards.

For example, Kimberly at Changing Faces has been brilliant - Mum and I had our trial for makeup and hair last week and it was just lovely being pampered and trying out different styles and choices. I didn’t really have a specific idea of what I wanted which I thought might make it difficult but I think if you choose a supplier who really knows their stuff, and takes the time to understand you, they can guide you easily. This is exactly what Kimberly did and I was so happy with the results. And it was so special sharing this time with my mum as well, who also looked beautiful!

Neither Matt nor I can wait now for everything that we have planned to come together. The countdown is well and truly on, and I will be sure to write a blog with lots of pictures from the day - our wedding day at Coombe Trenchard (!!) - only next time I'll be signing off as Mrs Lauren West!

May blog from Nikki, our 'Real Wedding Blogger'

Gosh I can’t believe its May already! People are always telling me that even though we’re not getting married till next year the time will fly by … and they’re not wrong!.

I’m happy to say though that we have got so much done since my last blog post and since we booked Coombe Trenchard back in January. 

As I mentioned before I was conscious that because we were getting married on a bank holiday that in order to secure the suppliers we really wanted that we should get things organised quickly … especially as we were moving house as well this year.

So since we last spoke we have booked our photographer, our catering, entertainment, florist and cake designer. 

One of the most fun parts so far has been picking out entertainment! Me and Ant met at a festival so music was always going to be an important part of the day. We got a recommendation from a fellow wedding stationer for a band down in Plymouth so headed down there in February to see them at a gig. We were planning on seeing a few other bands before making a decision but they totally blew us away! They were absolutely perfect for our wedding with lots of Indie / Rock classics which I know are going to have at least me and Ant up dancing … if perhaps not some of the older guests! But our feeling is this is our wedding and we just can’t stand the thought of music we hate being played just so we cater to everyone.

The other exciting thing was sending out our Save the Dates! As a wedding stationer designing something for myself turned out to be pretty nerve wracking … although also massive fun! I sort of treated it as though it was a brief from a bespoke client and tried to encapsulate our characters and liked in the style of the stationery.

We decided fairly early on of a colour scheme of Navy, Blush, Dark Pink and Ivory – with hints of dark green foliage. I also find it best to not just pick one or two colours for a colour scheme as it can start to look a bit too ‘matchy’ and quite dated – so a range of colours which blend well together was always the aim. We’re both love Navy ( our new lounge is being painted this colour! ) but I also love florals and ferns so wanted to include a botanical element.

We also want the wedding to be fun and light hearted and really wanted to incorporate some of our geekier side so the wording of the Save the Date cards relates to how we met and our love of Star Wars and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – and I couldn’t help myself but include some very small Stormtrooper helmets in with the floral motifs on the pink envelope liner!

Sending out the Save the Dates I was really nervous but everyone seemed to like them – even though not everyone got the geeky references! I’ve already started to think about the design of the invitations so that will keep me occupied for a while!

In the meantime we’ve just moved house in to a bit of a renovation project so I’m really glad that we have all the big things booked for the wedding and we can relax and concentrate on the house for a few months and look forward to our Engagement Shoot with our photographer Clare Kinchin later in May.

Nikki x